Car truck



July 2, 1935. J. A. SHAFER 2,007,005

CAR TRUCK Filed Dec. 19, 19,31 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENi'O R- Jizmes 2%Shafer:

ms ATTORNZY- y 1935. I J. A. SHAFER 2,007,005

CAR TRUCK Filed Dec. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- James Ska/ 62"HIS ATTOIfl Patented July 2 1935 CAR Timex;

James A. Shafer, East Cleveland Ohm-assignmto N ational Malleable and:Steel- (lastings Com-- pany, Cleveland; Ohio, aeorporationoli OhioApplication December 19, I 931';- Serial N0.582302 I It has been foundthat where sufficient spring oapaeity is-zprovid'edin railway cartrucksto sup pOrt-the heaviest loads, thespringsare sometimes too stinto givethe desired cushioning actionunder' relatively light loads.Moreover," where all the springs are alike, there is a tendency, undercertain speed and track conditions, for the oscillations of thespringsto i'nerease'accordi-ng to theprinciples 1 of harmonic motion. Thisobvieusly und'esirable because among otherthings the motion maybecomesogreat thatthe springs are driven solid with consequent damage to theladingto the springs themselves object: of the present invention is,hence;

to overcome these disadvantages throughthe provision of an improvedconstruction in which the bolster i'ssupported ona side frame member:through springs; and inwhiel r additional springs,- preferabl'y underinitial compression, are

provided' forengagingthe bolster for cushioning movements: of the sameafter: it-has traveled a.

predetermined: distance while'compressing the first: named springs, andfor damping out-oscil-- lations. A more specific object of'theinvention" is =to. provi'de such. a spring construction in a car truckof: the character disclosed'in my-copending without the need forexpensive or complicated aiterations and: with the addition of but fewand parts; Another object is the provision of atconstru'ction which issimple and relatively inexpensive. to v manufacture, convenient: to:assemble'; and sturdy'and durablein' service; other objects andadvantages of the" invention will beinipart pointed outpart apparent inconnection with the followingdetailed descrip tion of aipreferre'dembodiment of the'invention,

reference: being: had/to the accompanyinghdraw ingsriwherein Fig. 1 isavertical central section talcen: longitudinally of: the side frame ofaecar truck embodyingLmy presentinvention 'lhe side"framevis-showntbroken awayatieither end. l li'g.-

2-Cis1 a; section taken on the line 2'2 oiiFigv 1 I lookingtinthedirectionof the arrows; and-showingzassemblingsmeansinplace; I

In theedrawings, there is shown Lat :A aside frame: having tensionmemb'erszC. "and; a window' opening'DIor'receiving an end ofibolster'BilThe sidev frame is shown as preferably havingla-shelf' 2 at the bottomof the window, and a boxeshaped' portion 3 formedibelow the shelf Ziandijoining 5; two-separate sets of coil springs; each con: sisting' ofinner and outer coils, being shown, though obviously any otherconvenient type or: spring could be employed} "The lower ends of thesesprings areshown as resting upon spring 5 tion above referred 'toi '0"Asshownin l 'igjl', the shelf-2 on the side frame is forrn ed withopenings I0' adapted tore'ceive; downwardly extending spaced projectionsll formedon the b'olster. These projections on thebolster serve adoublepurpose inthat they not only: tie the side framestogether through 0030tion with the side walls-of the openings l0 but also cooperate with'thesprings l2 as hereinafter further pointed-out; 'I'wo'sets of springs [2are shown-as each con'sistingof' inner and outer coils seatedontherbottom of'thebox portion 3 of the" side frameand positionedbetween lugs j H and ll5 form'ed on the" side frame; As shown; thesprings Kare located entirely abovetheshelf 2; and the springs I 2 belowthe-same; theupper' springs lying-transversely of the side frame and thelower springs longitudinally thereof, with the upperand lower springs inoverlapping relation with' -resp'ect to, the horizontal-plane of thesheifi 2 However; this arrangement while preferred i's not essential 'sofar as: the present 'inventi'on isrc'oncerned. Eachzset-of' 'sprin'gs I2 is provi'dedZWi'th a-spring: cap ["6 whose upper face is adapted to-b'e engagedlb'y the lower end of one of theprojec'tions H on thebolster'when the latter l is: under more than alight load orupon-oscilla tinn'sabe'ing introduced in theu'pp'er springs 5' soas'torca'use'the bolsterto move downwardly sufii cien'tly: to engage"the spring cap. The shelt 2- shplwmisiformed with downwardly extendinggen? eralLy: annular: shaped-flanges I 1 which serve'n'ot only to?increasef the bearing area between lugs lrlrtanwitheiside' frame butalso as abutments for collarsoriwash'ersiw and l 9 which are operativelyinterposedabetweerr.the flanges :ll and the upper" I 55 faces of thespring caps. These washers are adapted to seat on the spring caps I6 andare preferably of the same internal diameter as the opening in the shelf2. Moreover, the lower ends of the projections I I on the bolster extenddownwardly through and beyond the shelf and the flanges I! so that theycenter the washers or collars with respect to the other parts of theconstruction. In this manner, the bolster upon the imposition thereon ofa relatively heavy load will move downwardly a predetermined distance,and then contact with the top of the spring caps I6 on the springs I2.The springs I2 are thus brought into action with the effect that theyresist continued downward movement of the bolster. On the other hand,upon upward motion of the bolster, the lifting action of the springs I2is only imparted to the bolster up to the point at which the collar I8or is, respectively, abuts against the flange I! on the shelf. In thisway, the action of either spring I2 on the rebound is withdrawn at thetime the collar contacts with the shelf, such withdrawal :of said springaction contributing further to the checking of the oscillation.

It will be noted that the collar I9 is shown somewhat thicker than thecollar I8, and accordingly the spring I2 which cooperates with theformer. is under greater initial compression than is the other springI2. However, both collars may be thesame size, in which case bothsprings I2 .will operateipracticallyin unison. Where the two collars areof different heights, it will be apparent that the bolster .on downwardmovement will first contact with the spring cap I6 on spring I2 whichcooperates with washer I8 and subsequently with spring ,cap' I6 onspring I2 which cooperates with washer I9, so that the'two springs willbe successively brought into and out of action, thus increasing thetendency of the springs I2 to damp out excessive oscillations.

The inner coils of the upper springs 5 may be so related to the bolsterand of such capacity that when the car is empty and the bolster, inrecoiling, reaches a predetermined height above its normal (or rest)position, the inner coils aforesaid are released. This release of saidcoils aids in damping said oscillations.

As a more specific illustration of the mode of operation of theembodiment here disclosed, assume the car to be empty, in which case thebolster may be supported only by the upper springs 5. If the bolster nowstarts to oscillate, a downward movement of predetermined extent bringsthe bolster into engagement with cap I6 of the lower spring I2 at theleft in Fig. 1. The increasing resistance offered by said spring I2 actsto break up the oscillation. At the same time, the inner coils of theupper springs 5, as pointed out above, may be so constructed andarranged that, should the oscillations aforesaid per-' sist and theiramplitudeincrease said inner coils will be released upon a predeterminedextent of recoil of the bolster above its normal position. Such releaseof the inner coils aids in breaking up the oscillations. When the carhas a medium or average load, the bolster may be supported both bysprings 5 and the aforesaid left hand spring I2, and the right handspring I2 may be so disposed with relation to the bolster that a furtherdownward movementthereof of predetermined extent brings said bolsterinto engagement with the cap I6 of said right hand spring, the increasedresistance of the latter breaking up the oscillation, and recoil of thebolster beyond the point at which collar I8 engages the associatedprojection I! releasing the left hand spring with further checking ofthe oscillation. When the car is fully loaded, the bolster may engageall four springs, a very slight recoil freeing the right hand spring I2with resultant checking of oscillation.

The capacities, numbers and sizes of the springs, and the amounts ofinitial compression of certain of the springs, may obviously be variedwith the load to be imposed on the bolster, and these details are withinthe grasp of those skilled in the art. The ratio of initially compressedsprings to other springs may also vary. In addition, my inventionprovides a spring capacity that varies with the Weight of the lading.Under light loads, the bolster is supported by a spring capacity toeffectively carry the load and as the load increases other springssuccessively come into play to add to the capacity of the first springs.

For assembly purposes spring caps I6 are shown as formed separate fromcooperating plugs 2| which may extend into openings 20 in the springcaps and have flanges 22 for engaging shoulders 23 formed on the springcaps. These plugs may be formed hollow and preferably extend downwardlybeyond the spring caps for centering the caps on the springs I2, andupwardly above the spring caps into openings 24 in the bolsterprojections II for centering the spring caps with respect to thebolster. The shoulders 22 preferably extend outwardly sufficiently fromthe plugs to prevent the plugs from being thrown up too far into theopenings 24. That is to say, the shoulders 22 may be adapted to engagethe bottoms of the projections I I.

.It will be understood that in order to incorporate the present novelfeatures described in the construction shown in my stated application,it is only necessary to provide one collar or washer I8 or I9 perspring. In order to provide for the insertion of the collars I haveshown in Fig. 2 a member 30 having an outwardly extending flange 3| forengaging shoulders 23 on the spring caps I6. This member 38 may bethreaded as at 32 at its lower end and inserted in the constructionafter the plugs ZI have been removed. The member 3I.extends outwardlythrough opening 33 at the bottom of the side frame and a nut 34cooperating with the threads 32 and a washer 35 seated against thebottom of the side frame, serves to draw down on the spring cap tocompress the springs sufficiently to permit the insertion of the collarsI8 and I9. After the collars are in place the nut 3G is released, themember 30 removed, and the plugs replaced. The assembly of the otherparts will no doubt be apparent, but it may be noted that the springcaps I6 can be put in place after the springs I2 are in position, andthat the plugs 2!, after the'removal of member 30 and insertion of collars I8 and I9, can be manually inserted through the openings III beforethe bolster and side frame are assembled. To assemble the bolster andside frame it is merely necessary to raise the bolster sufficiently topermit the end of. the same, including the projections II, to passthrough the window, and then to lower the bolster, bringing saidprojections into the openings I0 provided therefor.

It will be apparent that I have provided a construction which is notonly simple and inexpensive to manufacture, but also readily assembled.Moreover, it is capable of being incorporated in trucks of knownconstruction without any compli'cated on even substantial changes in thestr'uc tureof these trucks. In this wayallthe' advantages of theconstruction shown in my 00+ pending. application referred to areretained while at the sametime there'is secured the addi-' tional effectof damping out undesirable oscillations,'and reducing the recoil.

While this: invention has been described in connectionwith theconstruction shown in my aforesaid copending-application, it willbe'under stood that the novel'features disclosedsaresus ceptible ofembodiment in other types of car trucks, as willbe apparent to oneskilled in the art. Moreover; the terms and expressions which I haveemployed are used as terms of descriptionand not of limitation, and Ihave no intention, in the use of suchterms and expressions, of excludingany equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof,but recognize that various modifications .are possible within the scopeof the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a shelf formed onthe side frame, a spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, a springsupported on the side frame below the shelf and means between said shelf.and said second named spring for spacing the latter from the under sideof said shelf, whereby said second named spring is adapted to engage thebolster only after predetermined compression of the first named spring.

2. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, columns on saidside frame, a shelf formed on the side frame extending between saidcolumns, a spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, a springsupported on the side frame below the shelf and means comprising aportion of said shelf adapted to maintain said second named spring underinitial compression for engagement with the bolster only afterpredetermined compression of the first-named spring.

3. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a spring supportedon the side frame and engaging the bolster, a window formed in the sideframe for receiving the end of the bolster, .a spring substantiallyentirely below the window supported on the side frame and adapted to beengaged by the bolster only after predetermined compression of thefirst-named spring, and means comprising a portion of said side frameabove said second named spring for placing the latter under initialcompression.

4. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a spring supportedon the side frame and engaging the bolster, a window formed in the sideframe for receiving the end of the bolster, a spring substantiallyentirely below the window supported on the side frame and adapted to beengaged by the bolster only after predetermined compression of thefirst-named spring, and means comprising a portion of said side frameabove said second named spring for placing the latter under initialcompression.

5. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a shelf formed onthe side frame, a spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, a springsupported on the side frame below the shelf and adapted to engage thebolster after predetermined compression of the first-named spring, andmeans interposed between said shelf and last-named spring for placingthe latter under initial compression.

6. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a shelf formed onthe side frame, a spring below'the shelf and adapted to. engage thebolster after predetermined compression, of the" first I named spring,.and a collar operatively interposed between the shelf and thelast-named springfor' placing the latter under initial compression, saidcollar substantially surrounding the lower end of the bolsterprojection.

TL; In a car: truck includinga bolster and, side frame, a shelf formedon tneside irame,a; spring on the, shelf: supporting the bolster, apluralityof springs supported on the; side frame below the shelfandmeansrbetween said shelf and the sec.- ond, named: springsprovidingfor the successive engagement of the latter with the bolster afterpredetermined compression of the first-named spring.

v8. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a shelf formed onthe side frame, a spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, and aplurality of springs under different amounts of initial compressionsupported on the side frame below the shelf and adapted successively toengage the bolster only after predetermined compression of thefirst-named spring.

9. In a car truckincluding a bolster and side frame, a shelf formed onthe side frame, a. spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, a springsupported on the side frame below the shelf, a spring seat on the top ofthe second-named spring adapted to be engaged by the bolster, and meanscarried with the spring seat and adapted to engage the shelf for spacingthe spring seat from the bolster prior to movement of the latter tocompress the first-named spring.

10. Ina car truck including a bolster and side frame, a shelf formed onthe side frame, a spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, a springsupported on the side frame below the shelf, a spring seat on the top ofthe second-named spring adapted to be engaged by the bolster, and meanscar ried with the spring seat and adapted to engage the shelf forspacing the spring seat from the bolster prior to movement of the latterto com-- press the first-named spring, and for maintaining thesecond-named spring under initial compression.

11. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a shelf formed onthe side frame, a spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, a springsupported on the side frame below the shelf, and means operativelyinterposed between the secondnamed spring and said shelf for spacingsaid second named spring from the under side of the shelf to therebyprovide for compression of the second-named spring by the bolster onlyafter predetermined compression of the first-named spring.

12. In a car truck including a bolster having a projection, and a sideframe, columns on said side frame, a shelf formed on the side frame andextending between said columns, a spring on the shelf supporting thebolster, a projection on the bolster extending into an opening in saidshelf and a spring under initial compression supported on the side framebelow the shelf and adapted to engage said bolster projection only afterpredetermined compression of the first-named spring.

13. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a shelf formed onthe side frame, a spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, a springsupported on the side frame below the shelf, a spring seat on the top ofthe second-named spring, and

means operatively interposed between said second-named spring and saidshelf, and constructed and arranged to position the second-named springwith respect to the bolster, said secondnamed spring being adapted forengagement by the bolster only after predetermined compression of thefirst-named spring, and said means being separable from said springseat.

14. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame having columns and a shelfextending between said columns, said bolster extending into the spacebetween said columns and having 9. lug extending into an opening in saidshelf, spring means above said shelf for supporting said bolster, springmeans mounted on said side frame entirely below said shelf, and meanscomprising a portion of said shelf for maintaining the second mentionedspring means in position for engagement with said bolster lug only upona predetermined compression of the'first-named spring means.

' 15. In a car truck including a bolster and side frame, a shelf formedon the side frame, a spring on the shelf supporting the bolster, aspring supported on the side frame below the shelf, and meansoperatively interposed between the second named spring and said shelfand constructed and arranged to provide for compression of the secondnamed spring by the bolster only after predetermined compression of thefirst named spring, said second named spring being arranged to becompressed vertically by said bolster during the downward movement ofthe latter.

JAMES A. SHAFER.

